Destruction of Tara Temporarily Halted by Protest

meath | history and heritage | news report

Sunday May 20, 2007 02:37

by Roestown reporter

Construction was held up on Fri 18th on the controversial M3 in the Tara Valley by a peaceful demonstration. A small group of concerned active citizens congregated at Rath Lugh at 5:30am. When workers arrived at 6:10am, they were unable to get their vehicles on site and gathered on the N3. The workers seemed unaware that the carpark they were using is the newly closed archeological site at Roestown.

Construction was held up on Fri 18th on the controversial M3 in the Tara Valley by a peaceful demonstration. A small group of concerned active citizens congregated at Rath Lugh at 5:30am. Rath Lugh is one of the seven outer defence forts of Tara which is only approximately 150m from the newly discovered National Monument at Lismullen.

According to the maps, the proposed route of the monstrous motorway was supposed to avoid the beautiful iron-age Hill Fort and Coillte Forest. However, since this section of the route was fenced off in December, the removal of ancient trees on the side of the rath has created a cliff face of the hill. The NRA plan on raising the level of the motorway to the top of the rise. This would result in it no longer being visible from the hill of Tara and isolating it from the Tara complex. Rath Lugh is a listed National Monument, but was conveniently not marked on the last Ordnance Survey map.

The demonstrators stood at two gates, one at Roestown on the East of the N3 and the other at Treret at the entrance to the Berrilstown archaeological complex. When workers arrived at 6:10am, they were unable to get their vehicles on site and gathered on the N3. The Assistant Project Manager for the M3 made himself known to the peaceful demonstrators. He seemed shocked as most people are to learn of the extent of the unresolved archaeology still sitting in the path of the 6-lane motorway. The workers seemed unaware that the carpark they were using is the newly closed archeological site at Roestown.

This was a magnificent subterraneancomplex with circular stone chambers joined by architecturally perfect tunnels from the 6th Century AD. Quartz capstones from this site were found in a ditch two weeks ago by a local person. This is an example of the practice of NRA archaeology.

Construction cannot be allowed to continue in the valley until a full independent archaeological assessment of the route through the valley is undertaken. NRA archaeologists have proven themselves inadequate in their professions through allowing themselves be pressured into premature conclusion of their studies. The pace at which they closed up the sites in April was ridiculous and the amount of archaeology still visible in the ground is insulting and unacceptable. This is disappointing yet not surprising considering the NRA have no hard ethics policy. The contractor who has commenced construction in the valley is Howley Construction. Their contract is worth 650 million euro. Can a price be put on the history and knowledge that is being denied and lost within this 6-9km stretch of the motorway alone.

When guards were called to the scene they informed the workers that as it was a peaceful demonstration they had a right to protest. After several hours of these environmental and cultural activists holding the space the construction workers ripped down a fence adjacent to the entrance but were unable to gain vehicular access. There was also a pitiful display of pigeon-chestedness by a lone worker in a mini-digger digging random holes. After the demonstrators moved to allow a local farmer access to cross the route to his cattle the posse of idle construction workers realised that the didle-idle demonstrators were not restricting them from walking on site. At 11:00am approximately they started a few heavy machinery on site but appeared to have run out of diesel after a couple of hours. The space was held at the two gates by the determined joyful group 'til mid-day today, over 30 hours later. No destruction or construction was done in the valley today.

Large cement pipes which were unable to be unloaded at Roestown were then dropped on the archaeological site at Collierstown. As the construction workers are using the access points for the archaeological sites, these are the first areas to be demolished. This strategic destruction of the sites gives urgency to the need for construction to be halted immediately in the valley while their destiny is being decided. The cement pipes at Collierstown are only feet away from the piles of discarded gravestones at the edge of the site. All fencing and site signs have been removed apart from a lone archaeological sign in Polish strewn in the stream that passes through the dismantled graveyard. Bones and teeth are still visible in the topsoil.

This monumental disaster must be averted. The terrifying magnitude of the situation where the destruction and denial of our national landmarks of identity for the personal economic gain of a few already very rich people is beyond comprehension.

Two local farmers stopped at the demonstration yesterday. One said that, since he received his letter of CPO in the post from Meath County Council four years ago, he has never signed his name to any contract or piece of paper. Last Monday, machinery moved onto his land. The other farmer explained how 15 acres of his land has now been isolated from his farm on the other side of the route and no access point has been provided.

The fact that it is governmental manipulation of community needs, vague and watery planning processes, the potential falsification of Environmental Impact Statements and the dnial of the integrity of countless national and world leading independent archaeologists and historians is beyond pathetic. The fact that the motorway won't even solve the traffic congestion and could only get the commuters to the tailback going into Dublin 10 minutes quicker and that it is all being built by the Public Private Partnership and would have two tolls of €2.80+ on it is beyond a joke.

Who the féck do they think they are?

Idle

save preference

Comments (27 of 27)

Jump To Comment:

THIS WEEK

by NightOwl

Tue Jun 05, 2007 03:42

I've just found out that some of the "heads" from the NRA will be moving into new offices in the Dunshaughlin Compound this week, so a protest here may be worth while.

Ongoing emergency at Tara

by Roestown

Wed May 30, 2007 11:58

To remind everyone - there is an ongoing emergency at Tara.
Ring 086 1758557 for location information. People need for Baronstown and Collierstown sites.
Updates to follow shortly

No other option

by Bettina

Wed May 23, 2007 20:28

I am going to hurt myself with it, since I hope to reopen a small souvenir shop soon:

The conduct applied , in particularly during recent events in the Tara Skyrne Valley, which has been undignified beyond belief and laid bare the most disturbing side of rapid greed, leave me personally with no other option.

Boycott Ireland as a tourist and visitor destination.

What every tourist and visitor is coming to see, is going, going, gone.

Just a suggestion

by Seanie

Wed May 23, 2007 17:59

It seams to me that the road is going to go ahead regardless, lets face it, so would it not be a better idea to put the man hours trying to stop it going ahead into maybe developing the sites in Tara and surrounding areas to get them ready for the new & increased volumes of people that will be visiting the area...?

We see from a far

by Draig

Wed May 23, 2007 15:15

encjefe at mac dot com

St Louis, Mo

Although I live in the States, I have followed this battle. You are in my thoughts and dreams. I hope to visit Ireland on my next Trip to Scotland. It appears you suffer from some of the same things as we, when goverment and big business want something, the land, the wildlife and the people become non-players in there games. I bid you all Well

Draig

CPO.

by Eric Burke - Independent

Wed May 23, 2007 11:27

It must be CPO'd. How could they do work on it otherwise? Then again, levels of incompetency around here can be quite overwhelming. But no, it must be CPO'd.

They could argue that the land is in control of the NRA, and is therefore 'private' in a sense.

Eric.

And finally for yesterday

Wed May 23, 2007 10:02

The election is tomorrow. Construction cannot be allowed in the Valley. Opposition parties have vowed to move the road. This cannnot happen if the Valley and its precious sites are destroyed. They want to dismantle Collierstown completely.
Many schools are closed tomorrow, many people are therefore free -- please come and help.
If you ever cared for Tara - now is the time.
The activists need as much of your support as possible for the next week in particular.
Vote for Tara wherever you are - Greens, Labour and Sinn Féin have said they will move or review the road. Fine Gael are moving in that direction. Look at Olivia Mitchell's statement in the newspaper article.

Talking to the Gardaí

Photo from the Irish Times

More photos

Wed May 23, 2007 09:53

There was a lot of waiting and watching - a lot of meetings of workers. There were a lot of high powered individuals there from both SIAC and Ferrovial despite the fact that the papers report that they were not available for comment.
This particular contractor, Howley, is taking a very gung ho attitude to the work. Continue at all cost.
Gardaí eventually arrived, they were relatively polite and eventually backed off from asking people their names.
The legality of the road margin is still not clear, is it or is it not private property?
If the land is CPO'd then it belongs to the State, the people are the State. Does the land now belong to all of us?

Machinery at Roestown

Protester under the lorry

Protesters between lorries

Waiting for action - a lot of waiting

Car allowed in

Heavy machinery

Wed May 23, 2007 09:39

This is the lowloader that was stopped from moving for hours in the afternoon.
An attempt was made to bring this into the compound but it was stopped. There was a huge ttraffic jam building up on the road behind it.
Then it drove on - and began to reverse into three protesters. Workers jostled protesters as they stood behind this huge lorry - within inches of its huge wheels. The driver's vision was not clear, the protesters could have been pushed into the path of the moving wheels. This is being carried out by the workers themselves. Not the job they bargained we assume.

The heavy machinery

Lowloader and other machinery

Some photographs

Wed May 23, 2007 09:33

Even the photographs cannot fully tell the story. It is next nigh impossible to describe the situation.
The first photo shows the type of gates being blocked by protesters and the type of machinery they are trying to stop.
The second photo here shows the illegal entry made by the machines when they could not use the legal way.
They simply burst through the hedges.

Official entrance

Unofficial entrance made

Newspaper coverage of yesterday's protest

Wed May 23, 2007 09:08

Clashes as M3 route protest is dispersed
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2007/0523/1179....html
Tim O'Brien
Campaign to Save Tara members attempt to stop construction vehicles leaving the M3 site near Dunshaughlin, Co Meath
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Conservationists opposed to the route of the M3 in Co Meath are expected to make complaints to the Garda this morning about the way they were treated during clashes at the motorway construction site yesterday.
Five conservationists attempted for the third consecutive day to block access to and from a compound where plant and machinery are stored by contractor Siac Ferrovial.
They were aided by a small group who attempted to block entrances to the construction site about 1km north of Dunshaughlin.
Shortly before 9am yesterday, they allege they were "manhandled" out of the way by workers at the site.
They immediately sent out telephone text messages headed "SOS", claiming that "after 72 hours of peaceful protest" workers were "bullying activists".
One protester who asked not to be identified said he had been kicked while another female member of the group had been thrown into a ditch.
The protesters had refused to move to allow the lorries and plant to leave the compound.
The spokesman said, however, that "huge bulldozers" were used to create new entrances, a move he insisted was in defiance of planning permission.
Gardaí were present but no arrests were made.
By mid-afternoon, the protesters were still attempting to block the movement of lorries.
When The Irish Times spoke by phone to Dr Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin of the department of medieval Irish studies at Maynooth, she said she was on the protest sitting in front of a lorry.
Dr Ní Bhrolcháin said she was with a group of conservationists whose names were being taken by a team of eight gardaí who said they were trespassing on private property.
"We don't know if we are or not, we are in the gateway," she said. As Dr Ní Bhrolcháin spoke a car approached the compound and was allowed in.
She said the protesters would make no attempt to prevent individual workers from entering the site or going home and individual cars would be allowed to leave.
A spokesman for the National Roads Authority referred all questions to the contractor. A public relations spokeswoman for Siac Ferrovial said the company had "essentially nothing to add on or off the record" to a statement which was issued yesterday.
That statement said a number of people "blocked a few of the site entrances to prevent plant and machinery entering and exiting a small section of the site". It added that gardaí were called "as it is the responsibility of the company to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public on its site".
The spokeswoman later added that "protesters were removed peacefully from the site for their own safety, as they were in danger of being injured by construction machinery working nearby."
A spokeswoman for the Garda Press Office said: "Gardaí were called out shortly after 8am to the site of the M3 motorway where a number of protesters had been seen." She said they did not make any arrests and the protest later dispersed.
Opponents of the M3 claim it passes too close to the Hill of Tara and goes through the Tara Skryne valley.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Opinion, Irish Times, 23 May 2007
The wrong route
The small band of protesters who blocked the gates of the M3 construction compound to prevent earth-moving machinery exiting the site to start work on this highly controversial motorway may well be doing the State some service, to paraphrase William Shakespeare, in holding up road-making activity until after the general election.
Depending on its result, politicians negotiating to form a new government may agree to re-examine the advisability of routeing a motorway through the most sensitive and important archaeological landscape in Ireland.
Seven years have passed since the National Roads Authority (NRA) was advised by archaeologist Margaret Gowen that the monuments around Tara "cannot be viewed in isolation, or as individual sites, but must be seen in the context of an intact archaeological landscape, which should not under any circumstances be disturbed, in terms of visual or direct impact on the monuments themselves".
This was also the view of leading academic experts on Tara - Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Joe Fenwick and Conor Newman - and a host of scholars worldwide, including the director of the National Museum of Ireland, Dr Pat Wallace. Despite this, and the inherent dangers involved in proceeding with the route as planned, An Bord Pleanála gave its approval in August 2003.
The recent discovery of a large prehistoric henge at Lismullen, and its designation as a national monument, has given further weight to the case made by opponents that the NRA, in pursuing the existing alignment, would be "tip-toeing through monuments and moving whack into them", as Conor Newman once put it. That is exactly what has happened in the case of Lismullen, which was hitherto undetected.
Other archaeological sites along the route - such as the souterrains at Roestown or the circular enclosure at Barronstown - might equally have merited national monument status. But thanks to amending legislation brought in by the present Government in the wake of the Carrickmines Castle debacle, this was left to the NRA's own archaeologists to decide without reference to any other body.
In his very fine speech at Westminster a week ago today, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern referred to the extraordinary pace of change in Ireland, and said: "We have seized our opportunities and honoured our heritage". He also quoted Daniel O'Connell: "There is nothing politically right that is morally wrong". We are not honouring our heritage by running a motorway through Tara's landscape; the alignment of this stretch of the M3 is morally wrong and cannot be regarded as politically right. An alternative route should be found.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Irish Independent
Tara protesters block depot to halt road works
By Paul Melia
Wednesday May 23 2007
OPPONENTS of the M3 motorway in Co Meath continued their protest yesterday with a day-long stand-off at a depot near Dunshaughlin.
Up to 10 protesters stopped construction machinery from leaving a depot at Cookstown to prevent further works being carried out on the controversial 60km motorway being built through the Tara/Skryne Valley.
Yesterday, Fine Gael released a statement saying it would re-route the road away from the Hill of Tara if the National Museum recommended it.
It emerged last month that a prehistoric ritual site, deemed to be a national monument, had been discovered on the route at Lismullin, but a decision has yet to be made to destroy it or leave it in place.
Transport spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said that while the party supported the €850m motorway, no national monuments should be destroyed during its construction.
"Fine Gael supports the development of the M3, given that the existing road is overcapacity, causes significant congestion and affects the quality of life of those who rely on it each day," she said.
Gardai were called to Dunshaughlin yesterday as protesters spent their second day trying to stop work on the motorway by preventing machinery from leaving the depot which is situated a kilometre from Dunshaughlin.
There were some scuffles between demonstrators and construction workers, but no arrests were made.
"We started a peaceful protest," one protester Debbie Reilly said.
"Gardai told me I wasn't in breach of the peace so I could continue my protest.
"Gardai told the workers they couldn't do anything because we weren't breaking the law." Contractors Siac Ferrovial were not available for comment.
- Paul Melia
(PHOTO IN IRISH TIMES)
PROTESTERS PHOTOS TO FOLLOW

Action today

Wed May 23, 2007 00:37

Before I begin, action tomorrow at 6am. Lasts all day. The Irish Times and Irish Independent photographers were there today. They witnessed the intimidation.

It is difficult to know how to describe what happened today. We have hundreds of photos and also video footage. To give a resume -
activists manned gates around the Roestown compound individually. They slept there last night. They were joined by member of the public during the day.
Some points need to be emphasised:
one young man was badly assaulted in front of gardaí as the SIAC manager urged on the Howley workers (the contractors on this section) to get him out of the way.
another young woman was thrown out of the way and hurt in the head etc.
another young man was thrown aside by the Howley workers
These by and large are ordinary working men - trying to earn a living. They have been told that they will be fired if they join a union. They did not get this job or take it on the understanding that they would have to behave as bully boys for the NRA.
Protesters were bullied, injured, pushed, intimidated, dismissed by the powers that be. The guards stood back as they were assaulted.
But when they realised that ordinary members of the public and university lecturers were present the attitude changed - so there is a great need for "ordinary people" to be present at this protest.
The election happens on Thursday - they want to destroy the Valley before there is a possible change of Government. The smaller parties have promised to move the road or to review the route or the whole motorway project. They are determined to bulldoze the Valley before then. We have to stop them. Now is the time to act for Tara.
The contractors are determined to attack the Valley - that means Collierstown, Baronstown, Lismullin -
The activists need your help.
It is quite amazing how one person, two people at a gate can stop them.
This is the power of one, two, three ... but we need you all now. If you care about Tara - now is the time to act.
Watching three people being threatened by a reversing lowlowder into a small space, reversing into them was the most frightening experience of my life.
We need the academics there - the workers, the chiefs, the guards act differently when they are there.
Photos to follow tomorrow ...
Please pass this message on. This is the place where all is happening. You have seen the aerials ... you know what they want to destroy ... stop them now!
Roestown/ Collierstown/ Baronstown/ Lismullin/ ..........................

for information ring:
086 1758557
087-9249510
087 3171572
Newspapers will be full of it tomorrow

Re: Rath Lugh is staked and marked out?

by Michael Martin - TaraWatch

Tue May 22, 2007 12:29

Wicklowwolf at yahoo dot com

This is part of an archaeological survey of Rath Lugh. Has nothing to do with the motorway-construction scheme. Do NOT interfere with those archaeologists, nor their equipment and stakes they put in places, for the time being.

TARA SOS - Protestors being assaulted by M3 motorway workers. Ambulance called.

Tue May 22, 2007 11:10

Please come to Roestown as quickly as possible.
Protesters at Tara being manhandled by the workers, including the
assistant project manager of SIAC. An ambulance has been called for one
of the young women who has been injured by the workers. The Gardai are
standing by and have allowed the workers to take the law into their own
hands.
A young protester said:"The workers have illegally ploughed through 2
hedges to make a new entrance, they have assaulted the protesters,
because of the non reaction of the gardai and a young female protester
has been thrown and dragged around the place and now needs medical
attention".
Why are trying to begin work in the Valley before the election? Why not
at Clonee? What is the rush with work in the Valley?

Update on the current situation at 10.15 am Tues 22/5

by Rosetownreporter

Tue May 22, 2007 10:25

There is now 1 Garda present & imported security teams have joined the workers in attempting to physically move the protesters.

In the last few minutes, workers have broken through 1 of the gates and are starting to move equipment.

There are confirmed reports that 1 lone female protester has been assaulted by workers!!!!

The need for help is urgently needed!

TARA SOS

Tue May 22, 2007 09:36

Your help needed immediately at Roestown at Tara. Protesters surrounded by 30 workers and being manhandled. There are 4 gardai present allowing this to happen. The assistant project manager of SIAC is one of those present and allowing and participating in this behaviour.
If you ever cared about Tara - this is the time to act. Please pass this message on to all relevant list and people.
Ring 086-1758557 to get directions.

Rath Lugh is staked and marked out?

by Tomás

Tue May 22, 2007 00:38

I was up on Rath Lugh about a week ago and noticed that most of the hill on the section ajoining the new motorway is pegged with stakes and marked with spray paint every couple of meters. Does anyone know why this has been done?

Support required

Tue May 22, 2007 00:03

This situation is ongoing - the activists will still need help and support. Please go up and support them.

press release

Mon May 21, 2007 23:59

PRESS RELEASE - TARA - Work Halted along Controversial Stretch of Motorway

Photobucket link to aerial shots of sites under threat. http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/...hots/

Indymedia feature on Lismullin and related material at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82427
Activists can be reached on site - Donagh Maguire 0861758557 (in the Tara/Skryne Valley)

PRESS RELEASE - TARA - Work Halted along Controversial Stretch of Motorway

Today in the Tara Skryne Valley a number of environmental activists prevented machinery from exiting construction depots along a controversial stretch of the proposed M3 motorway. The protesters maintain that no work should be ongoing along the route until directions are issued by Minister Roche regarding the new national monument at Lismullen. Two weeks ago a massive henge, 80mts in diameter, was discovered along the route through the Valley. Indications are that the henge was a ceremonial site connected to the Hill of Tara. No work took place along the contested stretch before lunchtime today.

The protesters, members of the ‘Tara Solidarity Vigil’ along with a number of locals blockaded gates along the existing N3 preventing heavy machinery from entering the site. According to Donagh Maguire, one of the protesters ‘A national monument has been discovered along this stretch of the road and all construction should be halted pending the Minister’s directions. We will not allow this monument to be destroyed in the same way that a number of other important sites have been destroyed over the last few months. While the country is obsessed with the election the NRA are attempting to quietly bulldoze through the Valley. We will not allow this to happen.’

The Campaign to Save Tara, an umbrella organization representing the majority of groups opposed to the M3 said it understood and supported the actions of the protesters. Michael Canney of the campaign said ‘We fully understand and support the actions of the protesters today, many sites have already been destroyed and it is very important that the public are made aware that we could be sleepwalking into a catastrophe for the county and the country if the NRA are not closely monitored.’

ENDS

Donagh Maguire 0861758557 (in the Tara/Skryne Valley)

Gatekeepers still holding

Mon May 21, 2007 23:33

Some photos from earlier today.
At 6pm today there were 4 gates occupied.

Heavy Metal Banned

5pm Monday - activists being fenced in

Mon May 21, 2007 17:08

News just coming in that at least one group of activists blocking an entrance have
had a fence built around them this afternoon.
More details as they arrive.

Tara needs your help urgently now

Mon May 21, 2007 12:24

Hi all,
A small number of environmental activists are holding construction workers at bay on the proposed M3.
They need help as quickly and as soon as possible.
On the Navan side of Dunshaughlin take a left turn, they are mainly situated on the Dunshaughlin/Dunsany road.
Ring the activist phone: 0861758557 for specific directions.
Work must be stopped until the election is over at least - and then there may be a chance for Tara.

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

The Saker

Lockdown Skeptics

Voltaire Network

Destruction of Tara Temporarily Halted by Protest

Comments (27 of 27)